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Sunday, February 19, 2017

Food Scents

This is a poem from Facebook that I wrote and posted a couple years ago. The picture of banana bread is more recent.

Scentsational Sunday!

Apple cinnamon oatmeal and toast scented the morning air,
French onion soup made at lunch-time made everyone feel quite fair,
Banana bread in the afternoon made the whole house smell so good,
The aroma of meatloaf and mashed potatoes promised yummy dinner food,
The day ended with homemade rice pudding scenting the evening time,
I'd have to say this scentsational day was gastronomically divine!

I think there's nothing better than a house full of the scent of good food. It's part of the reason we love the holidays so much. The smell of our favorite foods cooking brings back warm memories of family or events that lie dormant until awakened by the heavenly mingling of sweet and savory delights we look forward to enjoying. The feelings evoked by foods cannot be denied. Some, such as those described in the poem above, are the ultimate in comforting. Cinnamon, onions, baked goods, and meatloaf bring me back to my childhood when the house would be warm in winter and smell of wonderful homemade meals and snacks. They also bring me the satisfying knowledge that I am capable of filling my own home with the same comforts for my family. Letting them know that they are loved and cared for. I can't imagine giving them any greater gift than that.

The rich aroma of coffee brewing brings back so many memories for me. First there are the memories from childhood and young adulthood when I lay in my bed just off the kitchen, my father getting ready for work to the sound of the percolator, toaster, and eggs cracking for his breakfast. His gentle voice talking to the dog as they shared bits of toast dipped in coffee from a saucer. Later in life, the scent of coffee figured in a big way as I worked in a donut shop. The air was always filled with the smells of coffee brewing and the sweet odor of donuts. My coat, in winter, always smelled of coffee. As I grew into adulthood, the smell of coffee in the morning shared over breakfast with my husband on weekends was a staple, and we still share that weekend ritual although now we are more likely to be drinking from take out cups and watching the weekend morning news program in the living room. In the afternoon my daily cup of coffee is a nice pick me up. No matter what else is going on, if I catch a whiff of coffee I am almost always calmed and in a better mood.

Today was so warm that I headed out to the back deck with a cup of coffee and a book. Such a treat in February!

The smell of someone grilling meat outside is another memory inducing scent. Mostly it happens on weekends, but sometimes on a week night especially in summer, the air is filled with that mouthwatering tang of barbecue. Memories come flooding in of trips to state parks and roadside grills, backyard parties, lazy weekends, and hamburgers, hot dogs, and toasted marshmallows. Gas grills are nice for convenience, but give me the old fashioned charcoal and time spent outside with a squirt bottle of water to put down the flames so as not to burn the food as it cooks. Those are some of the nicest times to remember.

I love the smell of tea; any kind of tea. English Breakfast is my favorite on week day mornings, and peppermint my favorite before bed. I just love the scent of a freshly opened box of tea! Sometimes when I need a little post dinner pick-me-up to get me through kitchen clean up and lunch packing duties I brew a cup of Constant Comment which is an aromatic blend of black tea, orange and spice. It is a heavenly perfume that I enjoy when I open the little foil packet to place it in my cup to await the magic that happens when boiling water is poured over the teabag. When I was growing up my mother was always a tea drinker and if one of us was sick she brewed us a cup of tea with lots of sugar in it, which was soothing and comforting. Some of my fondest memories as an adult with my mother involve a cup of hot tea after dinner enjoyed over a game of Scrabble or Rummy at the dining room table. Whether as a wake up call or a soothing end of the day treat, for me tea is a balm to be enjoyed sip by sip.

My top three favorite teas that I always keep on hand.

So those are some of the scents that we enjoy at our house. It makes for such a pleasant, comfortable atmosphere enjoyed by us and anyone who visits. I hope that your home is filled with delicious aromas every day.

2 comments:

I'm with you on all of that Sue! Nothing better than to savor those good scents that bring you back to a happy place. My grandmother drank tea but she was the only one in the family I remember consistently drinking it! I'd like to drink more tea. I have a lavender tea I like in the evening!